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The main benefit I still get out of the magazine is it gives me the confidence to try new projects that demand new skills. The second issue prompted me to make my first hand cut dovetails. While I buy Woodwork regularly, and occasionally other magazines at the news stand, Fine Woodworking is the only magazine I subscribe to year after year. I have been a subscriber since the premier issue in 1975. Back then my workshop was a 4 by 8 foot room in front of my carport and my only power tool was an electric drill.
My opinion of FWW has declined over the years to where I "only" regard it as a very good magazine, but not a great one. I find in practice that I can never rely on FWW reviews alone.Art Quality and Fine Craft content - distinctly second place to Woodwork magazine.Tips and Techniques - superficial filler content.Value - FWW has become expensive, considering the fall-off in content quality.I'm a current subscriber and intend to continue. FWW is a beautiful magazine. My advice is to subscribe to several others if you want to read about truly fine work. Writing is good to excellent and editing is air-tight.Depth of articles - fallen over the years. Fine Woodworking (FWW) was the pre-emininent woodworking magazine for the craftsman market in the US for many years.
Breaking it down into a few categories:Production qualities - still excellent. I also subscribe to the FWW online site, which provides enhanced content and video, though I have to say that much of the online site is very dated. From a sales standpoint, it probably still is. Second now to Woodwork magazine.Tool reviews - generally good, but often aren't always comprehensive in coverage of available tools. In the US, Woodwork magazine is at the top of the list. From an overall quality and value standpoint, it is not.
Pictures are usually superb.
The tool reviews are excellent. I find a lot of the content to be repetitive. This is, in my opinion, one of the top two or three woodworking magazines in America. Reading it with raise the level of your craft.(Ammended) I now give it 4 stars (****) I've been subscribing to this magazine for almost over 8 years and I feel that it definitely helped raise the level of my craft significantly in the beginning - and still does today, but to a much lesser extent.
They had backdated my subscription to January 10, 2008, and had sent me back issues from thier trash bin. Started my subscription in March of 2008. I have had them do this also for Fine Home Building and Wooden Boat. I have now gotten six months of magazines in two weeks. Got my first copy (April issue) week of April 7th, 2008. Got two more issues (June and February)next week (April 14th).
I just can't see putting out this much for an advertising based magazine. If you ever can get your hands on some of the earlier copies, you will be amazed at the quality of writers and articles then compared with now.
Seems a little fresher these days. I would recommend Popular Woodworking if you are interested in hand tools and methods.
I have been a subscriber for many years, but for $34.95, it just isn't worth it anymore. The magazine has always had an "east coast" bias, which is fine, but the lack of diversity of the woodworking styles represented is not excusable in a magazine supposed to be covering the furniture building audience.
Or for a more artistic bent, look at Woodwork magazine. Woodwork is a better magazine with more original content.
Look elsewhere, like used books for lasting content for much less.
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